Ensuring that Learning Differences
​Do Not Become Lifelong Disabilities

Protecting Every Child's Right to Learn How to Read
Give the Gift of Reading this Year

What We Do
Our team of legal experts utilizes legal tools to ensure that students with dyslexia learn to read and write to their full potential. In addition, we organize professional development and implement evidence-based programs and curriculums to improve instructional quality and effectiveness to benefit every student in the school district.
 
​Our Process
​1. We identify the students' challenges and create an education plan that meets the students' needs.
2. We ensure the student receives remediation from a professionally trained teacher.
3. We set up progress monitoring and ensure students close the gap with their grade-level peers.
4. We teach parents/guardians how to gauge progress and monitor their child in the future.
5. We run educational seminars for administrators and organize professional development for special education teachers and first to third-grade general education teachers.

Social Justice
Literacy is an essential component to fully developing as a member of society. Therefore, people who cannot read or write are effectively disenfranchised.
 
We hope to secure funding for our advocacy work within the next year and can offer free advocacy for the most vulnerable and underprivileged children in New York. Please consider donating to change a life -  your donations make a huge difference.

​Advocacy includes:

• ​Assisting parents/guardians to obtain an independent education evaluation
• Educating parents/guardians about their child's rights to an education
• Utilizing legal tools to ensure social justice for vulnerable communities 
• Securing an Independent Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan 
• Working with districts to ensure that the IEP meets the student's needs
• Working with districts to ensure effective and measurable  goals are in place  
• Ensuring effective progress monitoring tools are in place 
• Charting & tracking progress until the education gap is closed
• Representation at due process hearings
• Organizing cost-effective professional development for general education teachers (K-3rd grade)
• Educating administrators on the science of reading and language-based reading differences
• Effective evidence-based explicit writing programs

Need Help? Fill out the confidential advocacy form, and we will contact you within 24 hours

GO TO INTAKE FORM

 Advocacy Parent Reviews

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Special Education Law

Four Definitions about Reading from
​No Child Left Behind

1. Legal definition of reading The term 'reading' means a complex system of deriving meaning from print that requires all of the following:
(A) The skills and knowledge to understand how phonemes, or speech sounds, are connected to print.
(B) The ability to decode unfamiliar words.
(C) The ability to read fluently.
(D) Sufficient background information and vocabulary to foster reading comprehension.
(E) The development of appropriate active strategies to construct meaning from print.
(F) The development and maintenance of a motivation to read.
 
2. Legal definition of the essential components of reading instruction
The term 'essential components of reading instruction' means explicit and systematic instruction in-
(A) phonemic awareness;
(B) phonics;
(C) vocabulary development;
(D) reading fluency, including oral reading skills; and
(E) reading comprehension strategies.
 
3. Legal definition of scientifically based reading research
The term 'scientifically based reading research' means research that-
(A) applies rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to reading development, reading instruction, and reading difficulties; and
(B) includes research that- 
(i) employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment;
(ii) involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and justify the general conclusions drawn;
(iii) relies on measurements or observational methods that provide valid data across evaluators and observers and across multiple measurements and
observations; and
(iv) has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or approved by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review.
 
4. Legal definition of a diagnostic reading assessment The term 'diagnostic reading assessment' means an assessment that is-
(i) valid, reliable, and based on scientifically based reading research; and
(ii) used for the purpose of-
(I) identifying a child's specific areas of strengths and weaknesses so that the child has learned to read by the end of grade 3;
(II) determining any difficulties that a child may have in learning to read and the potential cause of such difficulties; and
(III) helping to determine possible reading intervention strategies and related special needs.

Support our work with underprivileged students
​Make a Donation

Student Advocate Presentations

Video credits and info. Learning Ally 

Here's some examples of students self-advocating. At the beginning of each school year, they present to their new school teachers and explain what dyslexia is. It helps their teachers understand dyslexia, it opens up conversations about dyslexia and conveys how they best learn. 

Victoria's Presentation

Stephanie's Presentation

Parent Advocate Webinars

​Advocating Basic Rights for Your Child with Dyslexia

An In-Depth Look at the IEP for Kids with Dyslexia 

​Webinar: 5 Secrets to Help Students with Dyslexia Become Self Reliant